A&M International Hosts Preview of Documentary on Mexican-American War

Texas A&M International University will be the
exclusive site for a preview of a new documentary on
the Mexican-American War on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 7
p.m. in Bullock Hall 101.

The special preview of "The U.S.-Mexican War (1846-1848)"
is presented by the University's College of Arts and
Humanities in partnership with KLRN Public Television
of San Antonio. After the preview presentation, members
of the A&M International history faculty will conduct
a panel discussion and question and answer session.

The event is free of charge and open to the public.

Dr. Jerry Thompson, dean of the College, said the new
documentary is a groundbreaking series that addresses
a war that transformed two nations and one border forever.

"This new four-hour series is a profound and thoughtful
study of the way the people of two neighboring countries
access, process, agree and disagree in the search for
truth. Although the U.S.-Mexican War only lasted 782
days, its outcome transformed the boundaries of our
neighboring countries, dramatically shifted the balance
of world powers and shaped the destinies of each nation.
We see profound changes from this event even today,"
Dr. Thompson explained.

Charles Vaughn, senior vice president of telecommunications
for KLRN, said the PBS affiliate is proud to be able
to preview the new documentary in Laredo.

"We have always enjoyed a special relationship
with the people of Laredo who are among the largest
supporters of public television in South Texas. This
offering follows on the heels of previous events we've
held in partnership with Texas A&M International
University including a televised performance of The
Three Tenors In Concert and the debut of a documentary
on Los Matachines, which was primarily filmed in Laredo.
We enjoy opportunities to provide such special events
for our friends in Laredo," Vaughn explained.

A&M International professors and guests who will
take part in the special discussion following the presentation
of the half-hour installment of the documentary will
include Dr. Stanley Green, professor of history; Dr.
Jana Pisani, assistant professor of history; Dr. Carlos
Cuellar, assistant professor of history; and Dr. Dennis
Wynn, author of The Patricio Soldiers.

Dr. Thompson will moderate the discussion. Laredo
native Tony Bruni, producer at KLRN, will be present
to introduce the documentary.

The full four hour series will begin airing on KLRN
Sunday-Monday Sept. 13-14. It will air in three parts:
Sunday, September 13th at 8 p.m.; Monday, September
14th at 9 p.m.; and Wednesday September 16th at 9 p.m.
The documentary was produced by KERA of Dallas-Fort
Worth for PBS.

Of added interest, a special bilingual (English-Spanish)
Internet WWW site affording visitors an interactive
chronicle of the U.S.-Mexican War will be activated
on Sept. 13.

The URL is www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar

For additional information, please contact the University's
Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at
326. 2180. University information can also be accessed
via the University's WWW page at www.tamiu.edu

University office hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu